Who am I, My Story in Short

Born of immigrant Ugandan parents during the age of political unrest at the hands of many including Uganda's Idi Amin, I began my life in Harvard graduate school housing with my family. Starting my life within a global community of academic excellence, I was unaware that my parents were studying to better the lives of our people an ocean away.

As I grew and my sister and brothers were born, I learned that despite adversity, anything is possible. My parents are a clear example of that fighting poverty, government corruption and atrocities to attend the top universities in the world.

Growing up in an urban setting south of Boston for the majority of my youth, I made the big leap from a large diverse high school to a small ivy league single sex college in western Massachusetts. With my Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Studies with a concentration in the Creative Arts, my education taught me to think globally and act accordingly. My parents and education gave me a substantial foundation to seek more out of life.

During my summer break after my junior year at Mount Holyoke College, I founded the first dance and chorus programs at 4-H Camp Middlesex in Ashby, MA. Although it was hard adjusting to a rural setting without a person of colour within a ten mile radius (it seemed), this camp provided me with an experience I will always be grateful for until end of my days. I fell in love with both the experience and my husband there. It was my third summer and it was his first. Coming all the way from England, I do not think he had any intention of meeting his wife to be.

After two summers of working at the camp together, I moved to England while he finished his engineering degree in Nottingham, England. This is where my global education expanded to Europe. Although England is the home of our language, I felt as though I had to learn a new one. So with this gutsy move, I was married not just to my husband, but also to a whole new culture. I also personally learned what it was to be a foreigner for the first time.

While living in Nottingham, England, I worked as the first Public Relations and Community Development Liaison between the Afro- Caribbean and Asian community and Nottingham City Council. This position allowed me to broaden my political and social views to encompass social, cultural and economic dynamics outside of the United States. I also believe this position further fostered my global awareness.

On the cheap, Jamie and I were able to travel to Paris (France), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Almeria (Spain), Rome (Italy), Edinburgh (Scotland) and Belfast (Ireland) to name a few. It was with travel throughout Europe and living in England that I learned the most about art, dining, wine, fashion, architecture and design.

After living and working in England for four years, my husband Jamie and I moved to Virginia Beach, VA where we had our son, Jediah. Then after nearly four years, Jamie got a new job in Tampa, Florida where I established my business as an artist and design consultant. After my husband was offered a position on Long Island, NY, we left Tampa Bay for Huntington. This is where my business grew to include the Glamorous world of GREEN.

This new world of GREEN allows me to explore companies, products and individuals that not only want to help our environment with glamour, but also support our global community by contributing to emerging economies. With Glamour, Gratitude can not be forgotten! That is why I give back to our community.

As a young girl with both parents working outside of the home, I attended after school programs that enriched my life. In turn, I wanted to return the sentiment. So my company started a volunteer art workshop for an after school program called The Promise Project run by the Family and Children's Association in Hempstead, NY. This program provides positive inspirational after school activities for 6th, 7th and 8th graders in the urban area of greater Hempstead. My company also provides inspirational seminars for school age children. For example, on July 17th 2009, a seminar was held in Dorcester, MA for the BELL Foundation's summer program for inner city youth.

The premise of my company is to use your gifts to give back and inspire the greatness that exist in all of us! Anything is possible, ALWAYS! This is a concept that needs to be fostered in the young! I believe that is one of the reasons why I am here. To learn more about me and what I do, EXPLORE www.bzen.biz and www.geof.us!

Art Exhibits

B.ZEN also represents and sells modern abstract paintings internationally with three major art exhibitions held in the greater New York metro area from January through October, 2008. Seven paintings in total were chosen to be displayed in two Starbucks Restaurants in Mid town Manhattan for a 9 month exhibit in 2008.